For
The IELTS Speaking Tests in Mainland China,
September
- December, 2010

Notes

This page will be continually updated until
the end of December. In other words, there will be new questions added and
some other changes made after each test.

For some of these topics, there might be
two sets of different but similar questions, for example, the "Sport" topic.
Certainly the "Work/Studies" questions exist in
different sets.

N= new topic or question.
But some of these might be mistakes. When a second person has confirmed that
he or she got this topic or question, this label will be changed from

N

to

N

C.
You can be confident that any topics and questions with this label are being
used now.

C
= confirmed that this question or topic is currently being used.
Questions labeled with

C

or

N

C

are the most likely questions and
(most questions) questions labeled with

N are also very likely

. Those
topics and questions without a

C
label were the topics and questions that were predicted before the first
test of September.

The predicted questions without a

C
label

are still possibly in use now, even if no-one has so far reported that they got those
questions.

Many of the questions have the words,
"(Why?/Why not?)" written in the examiner's question book after the
question. I have not always shown that here but you should include this information
when you answer any questions about your preferences, opinions, likes and
dislikes or any other answer that obviously needs you to state a reason
for a complete, coherent answer. If you do not, the examiner will ask you "Why?" or, "Why not?". If
the examiner is forced to ask that several times, you will be losing valuable time
and you will not give a good impression.

* = A question that I have guessed is in
the test OR a question that seems to exist but which has not been
reported clearly so I have guessed the wording

One
of the two topics above is a compulsory topic and you will be asked about 4
questions on this topic. You will then be asked questions on two of the topics
from below. (Again, about 4 questions per topic).

Note: For
high school students or recent high school graduates who have not yet started
university, the word "school" or the words, "high school" or
"secondary school" will be used instead of "university". If
you are no longer a student now and have not yet started to work, the questions
will be about the last time you were a student, either high school or
university, and the questions will be asked in the past tense.

General
Description of Your Studies

What
subject(s) are you studying?

C

Why
did you choose to study that subject?

C

(For
high school) Why did you choose those subjects?

Is that a popular subject (to study)
in your country?

N

C

Do you think it's popular because
people want to gain knowledge or is there some other reason?

N

Have you
always wanted to study _____ (your subject)?

What
are the most popular subjects (= university degree courses = majors) in China?

Family Support for Your Choice

Did your family help you choose that course?

(Similar
to above) Did your family have any influence on your choice of subject?

(Similar to above) How do your parents feel about your choice of
subject?

(Similar
to above) Did your parents agree with your choice of subject?

Almost
certainly, this means traveling to places as a tourist away from your
hometown,not travelling (commuting) to work or school
in your city or town.

The emphasis of
this topic seems to be on tourism, although the word "travel" can
apply to simply going somewhere, not necessarily as a tourist. For example,
you might sometimes make long trips to go from your hometown to another city
where you attend university.

It looks like there
might be two different sets of "travelling" questions.

Do you like
travelling? C

Where do you like to go when
you go traveling?

N

C

(Similar to above)

What places have you traveled
to?

Have you ever traveled for a
long time? = Have you (ever) been on any long trips?

N

C

Do you like
long trips?

C

What's (or, when was) the longest journey you've been on?

C

How do you
feel when you travel?

C

What form
of transport do you prefer to use when you travel?

What was
the last place you traveled to?

Which city
(or place) that you have been to did you like the most? (Why?)

Have you ever been to any
unusual (or, strange) places?

N

Have you ever travelled alone?

Where
(which country or place) would you like to travel to (in the future)?

C

What makes
a place attractive for visitors (or, tourists)?

What places
in China are (or, would be) attractive for foreigners to travel to?

(Similar to
above but note the wording) What places in China would you recommend (or
suggest) foreigners travel to?

Why do you
think traveling is so popular nowadays?

Do you
think finding out about other people's culture is important? (Why?)

Note: The word, "meet" can mean "meet
someone for the first time" or, "get together with someone such as a friend". It
is possible that both of these different meanings are used here, in different
questions. For example, "Where did you meet your friends?"
means "Where and how did you first meet them?" but "Where do
you meet your friends?" means, "Where do you usually (or habitually)
get
together with your friends?" So, some of the questions here might be wrong. For
example, "Where do you go to meet (or make) new friends?" does not seem correct
because most people don't habitually or frequently go somewhere in order to find
new friends. (If they did, it would mean that they can't find or can't keep friends!)
It is not too clear what some of these questions are, so pay close attention to
the exact words of the examiner.

Do you have many friends?

N

What do you usually do with your
friends?

N

Where did you
(first) meet your friends?

N

C

Do you often make new friends?

N

Where do you go to make new friends?

N

Do you often meet people who you
do not know? (If yes, where & what sorts of people?)